Weekly benefit amount and weeks in Alabama

The weekly benefit

Weekly benefit

$45–$275

Maximum: benefit years beginning on or after January 1, 2020

How it is figured

Your weekly benefit amount is 1/26 of the average of your wages in the two highest-paid quarters of your base period. Cents over 50 are rounded up to the next dollar; 50 cents or less are dropped. If the result is $44.50 or less, there is no benefit. The maximum is $275.

Official

Official table or notice

Law: Ala. Code sec. 25-4-72(b)

The wage test

You must have wages in at least two quarters of your base period. Your total base-period wages must be at least 1.5 times the wages in your highest quarter, and the average of your two highest quarters must be high enough to give a weekly benefit of at least $45.

Your base period is the first four of the last five full calendar quarters before the week you file your claim.

The state's wage tests

• Wages in 2 quarters, total wages at least 1.5 times your highest quarter, and a weekly benefit of at least $45 — The average of your two highest quarters divided by 26 must be more than $44.50

Law: Ala. Code secs. 25-4-72(b)(2), 25-4-77(a)(6)

Official source: Source page

Estimate your weekly benefit

Enter the gross wages (before taxes) you were paid in each quarter of your base period. We apply the state's own formula to your numbers.

The state's formula: the average of your two highest quarters ÷ 26, rounded to the nearest dollar (a .50 rounds down); at least $45 and at most $275

How long it lasts

Currently 14 weeks (it changes with the unemployment rate).

The total you can get in your benefit year is the lower of 14 times your weekly benefit amount or one-fourth of your total base-period wages. If you work part time and get reduced payments, your benefits can last longer, but the total stays the same.

The most you can get is 14 times your weekly benefit amount when Alabama's average unemployment rate is 6.5% or lower, plus one more week for each 0.5% above 6.5%, up to 20 weeks at 9.5% or more. The rate used is the average of July, August and September of the most recent year. Alabama's rate in that period of 2025 was about 3%, so 2026 claims get up to 14 weeks.

Law: 2.9% in August, 2.8% in September

Extra weeks and training

If you filed on or after January 1, 2020, and you are enrolled and making progress in approved training for a high-wage, high-demand job, you may get up to 5 more weeks after your regular benefits run out. You will get a letter explaining how to sign up when your balance reaches $0. Training weeks are not paid after your benefit year ends.

Law: Ala. Code sec. 25-4-74(a), (d), (f)

Official source: Source page

Waiting week

The first week of your claim is an unpaid waiting week. It is not taken off your maximum benefit amount. You must still file a weekly certification for that week and meet all eligibility rules for it to count.

Law: Ala. Code sec. 25-4-73(c)

Official source: Source page

Working part time

If you work part time and your gross weekly earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount, you may get a reduced payment. Earnings up to one-third of your weekly benefit amount are not counted; anything above that is subtracted from your weekly benefit amount, rounded to the nearest dollar. Report gross earnings for the week you earned them, not when you are paid.

Law: Ala. Code sec. 25-4-73(a)

Official source: Source page

What applies in every state

• You must have earned enough wages, or worked enough, during a period called the base period. In most states it is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.
• It generally takes two to three weeks after you file to get your first payment. Some states require a one-week waiting period, so the second week you claim is the first week paid.
• Unemployment benefits count as income for federal income tax. You must report them on your federal tax return.

  Law: 26 U.S.C. 85(a)

Free help

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